It started with Blondie, and ended up as a Zoo with a crew!

Category Archives: Hiccups

My step-dad and I had a complicated relationship. There was a lot of love between us. When my teacher decided to push a gifted student over the edge by giving me Trigonometry homework in the 4th grade, he stayed up with me until 2:30 in the morning, teaching me this math that I had no foundation for, and somehow we got it done. When I proudly turned it in the next day, she looked at me dumbfounded. When I asked what my grade was, she said “oh this wasn’t for a grade…” I went home that night feeling defeated and the next day he went to school with me, and I got my grade. I’m sure I was quite a nerdy kid, but he didn’t tell me that. Read the rest of this entry →

Ok, before I say anything else, let’s start with where the heck have I been? According to Facebook and it’s built-in guilt-trip providing insights, my followers are wondering why I haven’t been posting! The answer is far too simple I’m afraid. It’s summertime.

I have to admit this has been one of the better summers I’ve had in a while. No, we didn’t get to go on vacation. We haven’t seen anything fabulous or fantastic or amazing. We’ve seen a few cousins, hit a few family gatherings, but mostly, we’ve tried to find as many swimming holes that meet our criteria, which happens to be within an hour drive, free, and fun. So far I think we have about 5 different ones we’ve frequented.

I wish I could tell you it’s been all water holes and jars full of lightening bugs and capturing memories with my Rebel Read the rest of this entry →

I have to admit it. I’m one of those people. I love inspirational quotes. Yep, I do. I try my best not to over-share them on Facebook or pin too many on Pinterest but sometimes a good ole quote is exactly the boost I need!

This morning as I walked up the stairs at the high school, I noticed some very profound words hanging on the wall. They went something like this:

It was a good day for that reminder to cross my path. I was on the verge of spewing some highly disrespectful thoughts. Sometimes it’s very hard to face ignorance with kindness. Read the rest of this entry →

I’m not sure why, but I’ve always been captivated by Anne Frank. To me, she embodies the kind of optimism I try so hard to cling to. Despite being locked in an attic during her coming of age, despite being a victim of one of history’s darkest moments, she still held true to the idea that really the world is made of people who are genuinely good at heart. Whenever I go through tough times, I try to remember that even when faced with the holocaust she believed in the goodness of humanity.

Sometimes I feel like maybe I’m just a little too naive when it comes to believing in people. I always say to myself “we’re safe here” or “nothing bad is gonna happen” and then when I’m wrong, it’s a devastating feeling. Read the rest of this entry →

Why can’t someone invent disposable socks? I mean they would have to be both cost effective and sweat-sturdy. Oh great, this idea goes completely against my environmental reuse-recycle-repurpose philosophy, but then so do paper plates and I can’t lie, I use them ALMOST EVERY SINGLE DAY.

I’m sorry, when you have a family this big, sometimes shortcuts make all the difference. I do not have time to wash 15 plates every night and I cannot keep up with matching the socks. I’ve tried. Really, I have. I’ve tried pinning them together in the dirty clothes. I’ve tried matching them after every load. I’ve tried keeping all the socks to the side and just doing one load of sock laundry and I’m still stuck without a practical solution. The problem is me honestly. Read the rest of this entry →

My first job was at Six Flags Astroworld in Houston. I loved it. I worked in the games division. I mastered the basketball shot and the Wacky wire and won myself hundreds of stuffed animals from the crane machine, but my favorite thing to do was ride the Texas Cyclone. It was the world’s largest wooden roller coaster. I loved the sound the cars made as they struggled up the hills. It made you feel like you were never gonna make it to the top. I’d imagine the Little Engine That Could, chanting “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can,” and just when it seemed like we couldn’t go up even one more inch, BAM, we eased over the crest and went flying down. I loved the butterflies in my belly as we hit the bottom and started climbing again.

Like this:

I’m sitting in this hospital room again. There’s nothing like the cold sterile surroundings of a place like this to make you seek our your blessings. Honestly I feel like I spend too much time here, but just when I start to let my inner-child pout a little bit, something always slaps me back into reality.Read the rest of this entry →

I don’t have much time to watch TV these days, so my references are probably more than a little out-dated, but I used to watch that show “House” on Fox. Does it even still come on? The patients always have these strange symptoms that are seemingly unrelated and Dr. after Dr. fail to find the answers until Dr. House starts with his white board and super-human myster-solving skills. I’ve often stared at my daughter and wished he would just walk through the door and bring us some answers!

Sunday I had all sorts of grand plans in my head. I wanted to go to church, then drive 30 miles to visit my mother on her first Mother’s Day as a widow. I wanted to spend a few hours with her, and then go up the highway another 40 miles to see my step-mom and spread around some Mother’s Day cheer to two of the most important ladies in my life. All I managed of that plan was the part about going to church. When I got home someone said they got bit by a flea on the couch.